Richard Macken , 27, shoved through the ticket barriers at Embankment station on March 7 before violently threatening staff.
A thug who spat at staff on the London Underground was identified after splatters of his saliva were forensically tested, police have revealed.
Richard Macken, 27, shoved through the ticket barriers at Embankment station on March 7 before violently threatening staff.
According to British Transport Police, he put his middle finger up at the workers before trying to fight them.
He then, amid the national coronavirus lockdown, spat at them twice, fortunately missing both times.
Macken, of no fixed address, then spat at the control room window and threw tube maps around the station before leaving.
Swabs taken from the window were analysed by forensics and found to be a DNA match for Macken, securing his conviction.
He was charged with common assault and pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 12.
He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison.
Swabs taken from the control room window at Embankment station were analysed by forensics and found to be a DNA match for Macken, securing his conviction
PC Steve Russell of the London Underground Staff Assaults team said: 'Macken's behaviour was intimidating and chaotic, he tried hard to spit at staff in the middle of a pandemic, threatened them and caused a mess in the station.
'They were just trying to do their jobs in what was and still is a difficult time.
'Thankfully, their quick thinking ensured they used a spit kit to collect key evidence which helped identify Macken.
'These kits are excellent in tracking offenders who try wielding their spit as a weapon to create fear and concern.'
